U.K. to Allow Civil Partnerships in Church

BY Advocate.com Editors

February 14 2011 11:05 AM ET

The U.K. equalities minister is expected soon to lift the ban on civil partnership ceremonies being conducted in places of worship with religious elements.

According to The Daily Telegraph, “The landmark move will please equality campaigners but is likely to prompt a fierce backlash from mainstream Christian leaders, as well as some Right-leaning Tories.”

The action stems from an amendment added to the Equalities Act last year that would allow civil partnership ceremonies to be held in places of worship if religious groups agreed. Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone is preparing to announce a required consultation stage that involves passing legislation.

Among the questions to be considered, according to the Telegraph, are whether the ceremonies held in places of worship will be called “marriages,” and what protections to include for religious groups that refuse to hold the ceremonies.